|
Sun, Jul 10, 05 at 10:26
| Anybody interested in IDing very small insects before they are a huge problem on your tomatoes should consider getting a handlens. Yeah, there may be people who have grown tomatoes for 30 years and never had one but today the buzzword is IPM, integrated pest management. You monitor carefully to catch problems before they are an in-your-face problem. Plus , they are alot of fun. I have seen a few miniscule specks on a leaf and then determined they were spider mites even before they created webbing. I have seen whitefly and all there life stages in an area less than the size of a dime and before they spread all over the place. You do learn with the handlens what do look for without the lens , if that makes any sense but I still like to use the lens to verify. They are a little tricky to get used to--hold it straight on your eye and manipulate the leaf till you see insect.
I have taken several entomology classes so I know what is recommended--get a 10X lens. Bigger doesn't help and is harder to see through. I would stick to a doublet or triplet 10X (see link below).
I got mine at a university bookstore but I found this source on the internet. It is so interesting to see bugs magnified you may want microscope next so be forewarned. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by MrsJustice Hampton Va. (jjbaby38s@aol.com) on Sun, Jul 10, 05 at 13:58
| Thnak you for the information! |
|
| I've been meaning to get one for a while now. Thanks for posting the links. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Tomato Pests & Diseases Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.